Gun Shy -

: Pair the sound of a gun with something the dog loves.

: Have an assistant fire a light load from a distance only when the dog is in full pursuit of a bird. The excitement of the chase often masks the fear of the noise. Gradual Progression : Start with hand claps or banging blocks. Move to .22 acorn crimps (very quiet). Gun Shy

Progress to small-gauge shotguns (.410 or 28 gauge) at a distance. : Pair the sound of a gun with something the dog loves

: Remove the gun from the routine entirely for several weeks. Focus on building "prey drive"—getting them excited about birds or their favorite toys. Gradual Progression : Start with hand claps or

Only move closer or use louder rounds when the dog shows zero reaction to the current level.

: Fire a very low-volume noise (like a cap gun or a starter pistol) from at least 100 yards away while the dog eats.